2. Video app

A built-in app, but impressive nonetheless: Microsofts "Video" app ties in with the Zune video store. The marketplace offers several hundred movie downloads and rentals -- it's no iTunes yet, but the prices can't be beat. Several very recent movies go for 280 to 420 Microsoft points (oh yeah, did I mention you need to pay with Microsoft points? Yuck!) -- both in HD and SD. Only a handful of older movies (Forrest Gump, for example) are priced higher than that.

The app itself is beautifully designed. Simple and elegant. Click on a movie poster and you can easily buy or rent a movie.

3. Cook Book

Amateur chefs, here's one for you: The Cook Book app sports more than 200,000 recipes from the Big Oven service. You can select from a variety recipes and get detailed lists of ingredients, instructions and user reviews.